Ivan Petrovich Pavlov: Historical/cultural influences, identify the core “doctrines”/defining characteristics and geographically where these cultural influences most affect human psychology Custom Paper

Some specific helps and help sessions have been scheduled at different points during this course to assist you with your paper/writing quality and of course your paper grade.

SPECIAL TOPIC PAPER: A list of topics is listed below. You are to write a 10 page (minimum) paper on one of the topics of your choice. This means a minimum of 10 typed double spaced pages (not including cover, title, abstract, outline, or reference pages), with a 1 inch margin left, right, top, bottom, and 12 point type size. Only three students will be able to write about each of the topics, so select your topic very early and confirm it with Dr. Nowell. Your paper will be graded for writing mechanics, communication skill, and quality of content. Your paper should have: a clear thesis or main idea, a logical and sufficiently detailed development of the thesis, well formed sentences and paragraphs, language used appropriately and effectively, and standard usage practices in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It is a very good idea to have a friend who is reasonably skilled at paper APA format writing, proof read your paper before it is time to turn it in. Doing that is almost certain to improve your paper grade. Your paper must be turned in on time. For every day that it is late, 1 point will be deducted from your final class grade. Failure to turn in your paper will result in a class grade of F, no matter what your grade would have been otherwise. The term goes by very quickly, so start on your paper right away. When it is time to turn your paper in, submit it to the appropriate dropbox in D2L. Submit your digitally saved paper to the appropriate dropbox in MS Word, RTF, or Plain Text format only!!!

Because SDSU has a strict obligation to maintain high quality academic integrity, your failure to submit the Special Topic Paper will result in an F for the course, regardless of what your grade might have been otherwise. It is understood if you have a life emergency situation or if you have significant personal/work/family situations which you have communicated to me before the fact, that I am more than willing to work with you to help you successfully complete the above mentioned course requirements.

The types of topics which are appropriate for this course are listed below, other related topics are possible, but they must be approved by Dr. Nowell in advance. Google Scholar extensively, but only rely on quality SME opinions and information. Do a thorough search of the appropriate SDSU Online Library databases to find research which is supportive of your chosen topic.

**For your choice of one of the following points of view/major historical/cultural influences, identify the core “doctrines”/defining characteristics and geographically where these cultural influences most affect human psychology. Describe how they have influenced and currently influence human psychology (thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physiology, cultures). And discuss how they (1) describe, (2) explain, (3) predict, and (4) control human psychology (thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physiology, cultures).
Atheism
Buddhism
Christianity
Eastern Collectivism
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Western Individualism
OR
**Choose a major historical contributor to modern psychology (from Wilhelm Wundt forward). Research extensively about his or her life, and then discuss what you learned and how this individual has influenced other psychologists, influenced and been influenced by his or her culture, and influenced one or more major divisions/systems/paradigms of modern psychology. You can start with the following things

1. Where was this psychologist born? Where did he/she grow up?
2. What was his/her childhood and adolescence like?
3. Who were his/her parents and what did his/her father and/or mother do for a living?
4. Briefly outline his/her career.
5. Briefly describe the core elements of his/her approach to his/her specialties in psychology.
6. Find two-three major criticisms of his/her research/methods/ideas.
7. Who mentored him/her and who did he/she mentor?
8. What sub-division(s) of psychology did this person specialize in and influence in a major way?

Sources of information may be from Internet Sites, books, and/or scientific journals. Magazine and newspaper citations are generally not acceptable. For instance, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology is acceptable, but PsychologyToday, Textbooks, and Wikipedia are not. If you have questions regarding what is acceptable, ask me. It is acceptable and even a good practice to start your research at such things/places as PsychologyToday, Textbooks, and Wikipedia, however, they are not primary sources and often have questionable information.

The following criteria will be considered in evaluating your critical thinking writing assignments:

1. Accuracy: Are your facts or ideas correct?

2. Clarity: Is your writing clear and easy to follow? It helps to read your written assignment out loud to yourself. Using this method, you can catch incomplete sentences or lapses in your thought.

3. Depth: Are each of the issues and implications thought out and explored?

4. Originality: What is your thesis (the point of your paper)? Are your own views present and well articulated? Use your own words (Proper Paraphrasing document is available Online). Do not copy material directly from your psychological readings or other sources without giving the author(s) proper credit by citation in the paragraph and full reference at the end of the paper. If you want to use any author’s exact words, put them in quotations and cite the page number or paragraph number from your psychological readings or other source material. Remember that it is a good idea to express your own opinion(s). Quoted material must not exceed 10% of the written assignment.
5. Supporting Evidence: Support your ideas with empirical evidence. This is a crucial part of any well written paper. You may support your ideas with theories, previously conducted research, or other Information that you encounter from the text and other sources (journal articles, etc.). You may also use your personal experiences and observations as supporting evidence when appropriate.

6. References: Did you use appropriate references to support the main points of your paper? You may look in the textbook and find references listed in the bibliography that might support your writing-then go and read the original source material. Be sure that you have a copy of these referenced articles in your possession if you use them in any way for the content of your paper. That means that you have the articles on hand and that you read them if you use them. Make sure that your references specifically relate to the point that you are making, or support your inferences.

7. Form, composition, spelling, etc: Try to make your writing neat and error free. It helps to run your spell checker and grammar checker before submitting your work or have a peer or friend read over your work.

8. APA Style: Learn to follow the formatting rules of the American Psychological Association. If you have access to one, consult an APA publication manual for APA Style writing guidance. Alternatively/additionally, you may also want to visit the APA website for additional information. I have posted APA Writing Style Helps documents Online.